What a stupid article. Yes, let's examine a story written in the 40s, set in a fictional medieval society that (like real historical societies) had strong traditional gender roles, covering events that those roles would have forbidden women to participate in, and then criticize it for featuring mostly male characters. What a brilliant idea.

Oh, and let's conveniently ignore the strong female characters of Eowyn and Galadriel. And, since the subject of the Valar came up, let's also ignore the fact that the only Valar whose name and protection are repeatedly invoked in LotR is female (and yes, the Valar/Maiar do have male and female natures, though in their cases it's represented as a spiritual trait rather than a physical one).

Am I the only one who is bothered by one of the races listed being "trees." As Treebeard said: "Tree? TREE? I am no tree. I'm an ent." Also, the entwives were mentioned, but not individuals by name, as they had gone missing. It was suggested that perhaps the moving trees in the Shire were the entwives.

And how are you supposed to tell the difference between dwarf men and women anyway? Sure, most of them are said to be male, but otherwise, it's kinda hard to tell...

...Had about three men in it. The rest of the cast were females. Nobody said shiat about it, except that it was an amazingly good story.

I could also point to Steel Magnolias, Witches of Eastwick, Sex and the City, and The Descent, some of which came from books, others which were written specifically for the screen--- They had majority female casts, and in many cases the men were made out to be stupid, evil, or expendable, and no Masculinists came out of the woodwork and called the writers on their misandrist leanings.

SOME STORIES ARE ABOUT MEN. SOME STORIES ARE ABOUT WOMEN. GROW THE F♥CK UP AND DEAL WITH IT.

I still think Jackson should have hired actresses to play some of the dwarves, say Fili and Kili - and had no mention of it anywhere in the movie. Just treat them like interchangeable dwarves, like the rest of the cast. Put beards on them if you have to.

Vigorous_Apathy:Because it's a story about Stuff Happening, not People Whining About Their Feelings.

I hate People Whining About Their Feelings stories. Especially those farking cop dramas. Boohoo, your old partner betrayed you to the Mob and you feel conflicted about the informer you befriended. Man up and shoot some people.